Ramadan begins for Nova Scotia Muslims

Muslims across Nova Scotia begin their annual period of fasting this weekend.

Ramadan kicked off on Saturday for some and will begin on Sunday for others.

Ibrahim Alshanti, the imam of United Muslims of Halifax, explained that the start of Ramadan is determined either by the sighting of the new moon or by calculating it based on the calendar.

He began his fast on Saturday, just a week or so after summer solstice, the day with the most amount of daylight hours. During the month of Ramadan, Muslims abstain from eating and drinking during daylight.

Alshanti said the timing of Ramadan this year poses a bit of an extra challenge.

“It will be a little hard, but you get used to it,” he said. “In the beginning, you feel ‘I’m not used to it.’ No food, no drink all the day on a hot day, you feel a little hardship, but you get used to it.”

Ramadan is also marked by nightly prayers and increased acts of charity.

Alshanti said Ramadan helps Muslims feel closer to God and fasting provides an insight into the difficulties that the needy face.

“You have the feeling of the people who don’t have food all year round. There is needy people all around the world, so you feel their suffering,” he said.

The imam estimated there are 20,000 to 25,000 Muslims living in Nova Scotia.